Flight operations at Sialkot International Airport have been suspended from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm on Wednesday after floodwaters entered parts of the airport premises, the management confirmed.
A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) has already been issued, alerting airlines and aviation authorities about the temporary closure. According to officials, heavy flooding from the southern side breached protective embankments, causing water to seep into certain areas of the airport. Fortunately, the runway, terminal building, and parking lots remain unaffected.
The airport spokesperson assured that all equipment is safe and emergency teams, along with heavy machinery, are actively working to drain the accumulated water. “Our teams are fully mobilized to handle the situation and keep operations secure once conditions improve,” the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, district administrations declared a public holiday in Gujrat and Sialkot, which are among the hardest-hit areas in Punjab. Rescue operations have intensified as floodwater continues to rise due to heavy inflows from India into the Sutlej and Chenab rivers.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued an urgent warning of extraordinary flooding in Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej, urging people in low-lying areas to evacuate immediately. NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider confirmed that over 190,000 residents have already been evacuated to safer locations.
Meanwhile, Gujrat DC Noor-ul-Ain Qureshi and Sialkot DC Saba Asghar Ali visited Head Marala to monitor flood levels. Twenty people stranded near Shahbazpur Bridge were successfully rescued, officials said. However, communication networks remain badly affected, with mobile signals and internet services disrupted in Gujrat.
In response to the worsening crisis, the Pakistan Army has been deployed in seven districts of Punjab to support the civil administration. Rising water levels have been linked to India opening the spillway gates of the River Ravi, causing a flood-like situation across major rivers.
Read More: Punjab Floods: Over 210,000 Evacuated as Rivers Overflow
Flight operations at Sialkot Airport suspended due to floods highlight the seriousness of the crisis, with authorities on high alert to safeguard lives, infrastructure, and essential services.
